Dutch Parliament tells Cabinet to oppose EU’s 2035 ban on new fossil fuel cars

The Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, has called on the government to oppose the planned 2035 ban on new fuel-powered cars in Brussels. The motion, tabled by PVV MP Hidde Heutink, was passed on Wednesday and received backing from VVD, 50PLUS, DENK, SGP, JA21, BBB, and FVD.

Under European rules, new cars sold from 2035 must be CO2-free, but existing fuel-powered vehicles can continue to circulate. The European Commission is currently reviewing the ban and may introduce changes.

“The Cabinet recognizes the challenges the car industry is dealing with,” caretaker Infrastructure and Water Management minister Robert Tieman said in reply to parliamentary questions. He noted that the growing number of electric cars is a positive development, “but we shouldn’t ignore it when problems arise.” Until now, he had declined to comment on the stance the Netherlands will adopt in Brussels.

Heutink argues that the ban “will damage the Dutch and European economies.” Tieman countered that stepping away from the transition to electric vehicles would be more damaging, saying it would “undermine investment certainty and the reliability government owes to businesses.”

The Netherlands supported the EU’s ban on new fuel-powered cars when it was adopted a few years ago, but several countries, Germany among them, are now calling for the measure to be revised.

Several countries, Germany among them, are pushing for “technological neutrality,” arguing that the EU should not ban all combustion engines outright. They want efficient combustion engines, hybrids, and vehicles powered by synthetic e-fuels to remain allowed beyond 2035.

Other critics of the ban, and those pushing for changes, argue that the policy fails to reflect conditions on today’s car market. They point out that the shift to electric vehicles is moving too slowly, while production capacity, charging infrastructure, and broader market conditions remain inadequate in many EU member states.